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08/04/2008

Deb SBS Launches Program for Infection Control in the Workplace

01/30/2008

U-M Students Participate in Flu Season Study

10/15/2007

Consumers Union Urges Hospitals to Disclose Handwashing Compliance Rates

09/17/2007

Hygiene Habits Stall: People Still Not Washing Their Hands

06/26/2007

Hand Sanitizer Use Safe, Despite Internet, Media Hype

06/25/2007

Survey Reveals Americans are Unaware of Germ Threat to Children in the Home

03/02/2007

With Fear of Spreading Germs High, Pennsylvanians Likely to Wash Hands Often, Poll Reveals

02/14/2007

Germs Working Overtime, Especially at Women's Desks; New Study Compares Office Surfaces Germ by Germ to Determine “Germiest” Gender

02/01/2007

FDA Requires Higher Standards for Medical Gloves; Industry Insiders Forecast Impact

01/02/2007

All Antiseptic Handwashes are Not Created Equal

12/01/2006

Americans’ Concern for Skin Infections, Flu, Spreads Across the Country

11/07/2006

Fomites and Infection Transmission

10/04/2006

Arrival of Cold and Flu Season Shouldn’t Mean Departure of Employees; Worker Absenteeism can be Reduced with Proper Cleaning

10/01/2006

Hotel Guests Often Leave Their Cold Behind

08/24/2006

Where Are the Germs Hiding This Back to School Season? Lab Studies Reveal the Hidden Health Risk of Unsterilized Wind Instruments

06/01/2006

Hand Hygiene:

Applying Aseptic Technique in all Clinical Settings

03/01/2006

Infection Control Today

The New View on Latex Allergies

02/01/2006

HAND HYGIENE

Challenges and Benefits of Double-Gloving in Surgery

12/13/2005

Infection Rates, Cleanliness Top the List of Factors Consumers Consider When Choosing a Hospital

12/01/2005

IC CALENDAR

11/01/2005

Medical Gloves

09/16/2005

Millions of Germs and Bacteria Await Kids at School; NSF International Findings Highlight the Importance of Handwashing in Illness Prevention

09/06/2005

Hand Sanitizer Gel Reduces Spread of GI Infections

08/01/2005

How to Use an Alcohol-Based Handrub

How to Comply With HAND-HYGIENE IMPERATIVES

06/01/2005

Hand Hygiene and Glove Issues:

Infection Control Today: Clinical Update

04/05/2005

Good Hand Hygiene Helps Fight Hospital-Associated Infections

03/17/2005

New Study Shows Flu Virus Makes Itself at Home

03/04/2005

Are Restroom Report Cards the Way to a More Hygienic Public Restroom? Survey Respondents Say Yes to Ratings, Touch-Free Systems and Guaranteed Supplies

11/19/2004

Renowned Microbiologist and Germ Expert Dr. Philip Tierno Provides Timely Tips for Healthy Hands and a Healthy Holiday

11/03/2004

Five Guaranteed Tips for Avoiding Colds

11/01/2004

Secret Handwashing Observation is Part of One Hospital’s Waron Germs

Ensuring Barrier Protection

10/01/2004

Infection Prevention

Medical Glove Manufacturers Working Toward

09/15/2004

Nation Gets a "C" for Hygiene in the SDA Clean Hands Report Card

07/30/2004

One in Five Parents Believes Children Lack Proper Hygiene Products in School

07/28/2004

Why Are Kids Packing Gels and Wipes for School?

07/01/2004

Where Do Germs Lurk? New Survey Shows Most Americans do not Know

Infection Control Today - 07/2004: Glove Resource

Infection Control Today - 07/2004: GLOVES

06/01/2004

Infection Control Today - 06/2004: Clinical Requirements

05/10/2004

Survey Reports That TV, Movies Play Key Roles in Teaching Children Good Hygiene

04/26/2004

In Public Restrooms, Many Take Maintenance Into Their Own Hands; Survey Looks at Personal Cleaning Methods in Private Places

03/01/2004

Infection Control Today - 03/2004: Handwashing and Cross Contamination

02/25/2004

Study Links Improved Health to Day-Care Center Cleaning and Disinfection

Bacteria and viruses are the microscopic organisms – otherwise known as germs -- that are responsible for causing and transmitting illness and disease. These microbes are so small, that according to the American Society for Microbiology, if the smallest of all microbes was the size of a baseball, an average bacterium would then be the size of the pitcher's mound, and just one of the millions of cells that make up your body would be the size of the ballpark!

Read more...

  • An average of only 1 in 6 people wash their hands after using the restroom.
  • After using the restroom, a single hand can have a population count of more than 200 million bacteria per square inch.
  • When you sneeze, germs can travel at 80 miles per hour across a room.
  • One microbe can grow to become more than 8 million germs in just one day.
  • A kitchen cutting board harbors 50 times more bacteria than your toilet seat.
  • The average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
  • Viruses can survive on common surfaces like faucet handles for up to 72 hours.
  • The majority of food-poisoning cases are acquired in the home.
  • The average child catches at least 8 colds in a year, and U.S. kids miss as many as 189 million school days each year due to colds.

Do you think it's important to wash your hands in order to prevent the spread of illness and disease?

Absolutely, and I wash constantly!
Whenever I remember to do so!
I'm too busy to wash my hands!

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